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 Joique Bell had four rushing touchdowns against Gannon. |
Oct. 6, 2007
Detroit, Mich. - The Wayne State University football team (2-4 overall, 1-4 GLIAC) scored the fifth most points in school history in a 56-21 triumph over visiting Gannon (0-6 overall, 0-5) before the sixth largest crowd in stadium history (4,823) Saturday at WSU Stadium/Adams Field.
The Warriors started strong forcing a Golden Knight punt on the first possession of the game, and after WSU failed to convert on a fourth-and-one at the Gannon five, the Wayne State defense recorded its first of five turnovers on the afternoon.
Senior Alan Guy (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) forced a fumble by Bob Bartley which was recovered by classmate James Cook (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison/Grand Rapids CC) at the six. On the very next play, sophomore running back Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) rushed left for six yards and the touchdown, the first of his four in the contest.
Following a Gannon punt, sophomore quarterback Trent Pohl (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) combined with true freshman wide receiver David Mosley (Detroit, Mich./Oak Park) on a 86-yard scoring toss, the fourth longest in school history.
WSU held a 163-63 advantage after 15 minutes in total offense despite Gannon holding an 11:05 to 3:55 lead in time of possession.
The Warriors drove 36 yards in four plays, all Bell runs, following a 24-yard punt return by freshman Stan Thornton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow). Senior David Chudzinski's (Belleville, Mich.) extra point attempt was no good ending his school record streak at 58.
After an exchange of punts, Wayne State used nine plays to go 41 yards with sophomore Anthony Morasso (Detroit, Mich./Harper Woods Notre Dame) connecting on a 36-yard field goal attempt to give the home team a 23-0 lead midway through the second stanza.
The Golden Knights went 74 yards in four plays to get on the scoreboard at 23-7. Following the kickoff, the Warriors responded with an 80-yard, seven play drive with Pohl completing a 28-yard scoring toss to sophomore Aaron Higginbottom (Flint, Mich./Beecher). It was Higginbottom's first career touchdown.
Gannon made it 30-14 at halftime with a 35-yard "Hail Mary" pass from Bartley to Levar Goff on the final play on the second quarter.
Bell ran for 111 yards in the first half as WSU recorded 310 yards of total offense to 196 for Gannon.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Wayne State went 35 yards with Chudzinski making a 41-yard field goal attempt, his first make of the campaign.
GU responded with a 71-yard touchdown pass on its second play from scrimmage to make it 33-21.
Following a Golden Knight fumble on its next possession, Chudzinski connected on a 42-yard field goal.
Neither team was able to score until Bell recorded his third rushing touchdown of the game on the second play of the fourth quarter. Gannon's Kendall Brown was stripped by Adam Nuckols (Waterford, Mich./Mott) on the kickoff return and Bruno Shkreli (Livonia, Mich./Clarenceville) recovered for WSU at the Gannon 31.
Six plays later Bell tied the school record (held by Pierre Brown, 1998-01) for career touchdowns with his 38th, in only 17 games.
Two drives later for Gannon, Alex Jachym (Westland, Mich./John Glenn) recovered a bad snap at the Gannon 22. Five Neil Mitchell (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) runs were followed by a one-yard touchdown run for Shkreli, the first career score for the sophomore.
Bell finished the contest with 159 yards on 29 carries and the four rushing touchdowns. Pohl completed 11 of 24 for 201 yards and two scores. Ed Sanders (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) had three receptions for 31 yards, while Daryl Graham (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) also had three catches out of the backfield.
The Warriors rushed 60 times for 308 yards, the most yardage in 13 years (330 at St. Joseph's on Sept. 10, 1994). The 509 yards of total offense was the 10th highest mark in school history.
Wayne State will look for its second conference win of the season next Saturday at Hillsdale. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.
Records Watch:
In addition to tying the school record for career touchdowns, Joique Bell moved past Joe Gough into second place on the rushing touchdowns list with 35 (Ed Skowneski, 1972-75, has 37).
Bell also went from fourth to second in career scoring passing Gough and Skowneski. He has 228 points, just six behind Pierre Brown's mark of 234.
Bell also moved into 10th in career total offense with 2,979 surpassing Jim Gendron's (1976-78) mark of 2,826.
With his two touchdown passes, Trent Pohl is tied with Mike Soluk (1957-58, 60) for 10th place all-time at 13.
WSU has scored at least 50 points twice this season, marking the first time in school history.
